Brian X. McCrone

PHILLY.COM

A "made man" of Philadelphia's reputed organized crime syndicate "La Costra Nostra" who once described himself as the organization's "CFO" was sentenced to 97 months in federal prison Wednesday for his participation in a racketeering conspiracy that involved loansharking and threats of violence if loans weren't repaid.

Anthony "Ant" Staino, 57, of Swedesboro, N.J., admitted to being a "capo" in the organization, according to court documents filed over the course of the investigation, the U.S. Attorney's office said. He initially pleaded guilty April 19 to conspiring to conduct and participate in the affairs of La Costra Nostra through racketeering.

"He gave a usurious loan to an undercover FBI agent and used threats of violence to collect payments on the loan," the U.S. Attorney's office said in a statement following the sentencing by federal Judge Eduardo C. Robreno. "Staino also admitted that he ran an illegal electronic gambling device business for the mob, providing video poker machines and other gambling devices for bars, restaurants, convenience stores, coffee shops and other locations in Philadelphia and its suburbs, and then collected the illegal gambling proceeds."